Patient centricity, traceability, innovation, compliance and adherence were the top trends in pharmaceutical packaging and drug delivery devices unveiled during Pharmapack Europe’s 2017 show in Paris, which celebrated 20 years of innovation, networking and education.
Pharmapack 2018 will run Feb. 7-8 next year at the Paris expo Porte de Versailles—Hall 7.1.
Pharmapack Europe 2017 also included a first-ever media debate, with industry experts predicting future innovations. The debate centered on compliance, patient centricity and digital integration, with a panel discussion moderated by Jim Chrzan, Group Publisher of Healthcare Packaging and PMMI Media Group.
According to Dr. Pascale Gauthier, Biopharmaceutical Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Auvergne University, “Technology is becoming more integrated with packaging, particularly as solutions move toward greater patient centricity, in terms of screen integration, signal transmission and data sharing.”
Prof. Philippe Arnaud, Hospital Bichat-ClaudeBernard AP-HP, suggested that we must look at the future of pharma packaging to advance the industry, saying, “Individualization is at the forefront of innovation, particularly with regard to small populations and the elderly.”
With device development being fast-tracked by many authorities, Lionel Jeannin, Device and Packaging Expert at Novartis, commented that the interaction between medication and devices is growing across the globe, with the U.S. FDA a clear leader in regulation on combination products, while Europe is also experiencing development in this area.
In the last 20 years, the experts agreed, several products have had anti-counterfeiting and traceability issues in an increasingly complex supply chain. Marc Bobee, Sanofi’s Director Industrial Anticounterfeiting Strategy, stated that packaging is the key element in the security for patients and products, with tamper evidence now expected to be an essential requirement in the future.”
Pharmapack's Serialisation and Track & Trace symposium outlined the industry's efforts to overcome pharmaceutical counterfeiting, putting traceability solutions and serialization strategies at the forefront of the agenda. With the impending deadline facing manufacturers, a special session provided guidance on the EU Falsified Medicine's Directive. Additionally, the symposium featured case studies and practical examples of traceability application and compliance for attendees.
Another Pharmapack first was the introduction of the new Pharmapack Start-up Hub, which highlighted groundbreaking young pharma companies as the most innovative in the exhibition.
Pharmapack Europe’s 2017 edition saw an increase in attendance numbers from 2016, with 5,290 attendees and 411 exhibitors. It was the most international Pharmapack Europe to date, including participants from more than 100 countries.
Pharmapack Europe 2017 also saw the return of the Innovation Gallery and Innovation Tours, presenting innovative products in the pharma packaging and the delivery device industry through dedicated guided tours.
